The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 112

Chapter 112   Laughing in Crisis

While the “Spirit Workshop” Alliance and “White Wolf” were engaged in fierce negotiations, a passenger ship was docked at the port.

The ship had just finished a smooth voyage and dropped anchor, but one of the crew members, a young boy tasked with unloading luggage, felt a pang of regret as the journey came to an end.

This voyage had been one of the most enjoyable experiences of his career as a sailor.

The reason for this was a particular noblewoman who had been on board.

Dressed entirely in black, with a black pointed hat, black clothing, and black knee-high socks, she looked like a mage from the “Adventurers’ Town.”

Every time she rang her bell, the boy would eagerly rush to her cabin, thrilled inside.

His excitement wasn’t just because she was incredibly beautiful and wore a captivating smile that made one turn their head as they passed by. Additionally, this cheerful noblewoman had kindly spoken to him, a mere cabin boy, with a friendly demeanor.

She was cheerful and intelligent but had a certain charming flair about her.

She would call him at the same time every day, and soon, he began looking forward to that time each day.

Delivering drinks to her room was a soothing escape from the harshness of his sailor duties.

But now, that pleasant time had come to an end.

Ahead lay more days filled with arrogant passengers, condescending superiors, and monotonous physical labor.

Thinking of that, he couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about the few days he had spent with the noblewoman on this ship.

As the boy reminisced about his time with her, the noblewoman herself appeared, wearing her trademark full black attire, black mini skirt, black knee-high socks, and black pointed hat.

“Excuse me. I’ve come to collect my luggage, but… oh? You’re the one who always delivered my drinks…”

“You remembered me?”

The boy spoke with heartfelt emotion.

“Yes, of course. You were always my conversation partner when I was bored.”

“It’s a shame to part ways like this. It was such a delightful voyage.”

“I’m sure we’ll meet again someday.”

She gave a wink.

The sailor couldn’t help but feel a flutter in his chest.

“Um, are these all the items you need?”

The sailor handed over a sturdy broom and a bag filled with various items.

“Yes, that’s all. By the way, could you tell me where the alchemy guild ‘Spirit Workshop’ is located?”

“‘Spirit Workshop’… Ah, that’s the alchemy guild that was recently established on this island. It’s located in a workshop atelier attached to the back of a diner on the outskirts of town. That’s the headquarters of ‘Spirit Workshop’.”

The boy gave detailed directions for the noblewoman.

“Thank you very much.”

“Um… Excuse me, but what business do you have with the alchemy guild?”

The noblewoman smiled with a mysterious air.

“Well, despite appearances, I’m an adventurer.”

“An adventurer? As in one of those adventurers?”

“Yes, I’m a witch by profession.”

“I can’t believe it. Oh, if you’d like, I can call a courier service for you. Your luggage must be heavy.”

“No, that’s alright. I can manage as long as I know the general location and direction…”

“But it’s quite far.”

“I’ll be fine. I have a unique skill.”

“A unique skill?”

Before the boy could ask more, the witch mounted her broom, floated up effortlessly, and swiftly flew out of reach, soaring into the sky.

“Thank you for the enjoyable voyage, sailor. Until we meet again.”

She waved as she flew away.

The sailor stood there, dumbfounded, watching her leave.

(I wonder if Laurent is doing well.)

Lilianne, with her heart racing as she went to visit her long-time lover, flew toward the workshop atelier.

*

Realizing that defective armor had been mixed in, Laurent was deeply troubled.

(For now, I managed to cover it up, but what to do next?)

When Laurent used “Item Appraisal” on everyone’s equipment, he discovered that, shockingly, a significant number of the members in the newly trained Grade D group were wearing defective armor.

(Should I order a switch of equipment between the Grade D and Grade E groups? No, that’s not an option. I can’t afford to let the unit’s trust be shaken at this timing, especially with the equipment already being damaged. I must conceal the equipment defects at all costs!)

Laurent decided to cover up the majority of the Grade D members, placing them in the center.

This decision would place an excessive burden on the Grade B and Grade C groups.

Pat, noticing Laurent’s deployment at a glance, sensed something was off.

(This is strange. Why such a deployment? Could it be! The armor with severely low durability earlier… Could there be more defective items?)

As an alchemist, Pat immediately recognized the shortcuts taken with the damaged armor.

A few defective items could be unavoidable.

But if there were many such items…

“Laurent, I need to talk…”

“Pat! Come here for a moment.”

Laurent called Pat over and began speaking in a low voice with their foreheads nearly touching.

“There are many items with severely low durability among the new recruits’ equipment.”

“!! As I suspected…”

“To protect the reputation of ‘Spirit Workshop,’ we must keep the defective equipment hidden. This matter must not be disclosed. Understand?”

“Um… Laurent, if it’s the new recruits’ equipment, does that mean Wayne…”

“We’ll investigate the cause and hold someone accountable later. For now, we must focus solely on overcoming this crisis.”

(Laurent… Damn…)

When Pat looked at Wayne, he was simply staring down in a corner.

(Wayne. What has happened to you? You never cut corners like this when you were with ‘Dragon’s Ember’. Have you truly gone bad?)

While Laurent was struggling to conceal the defective equipment, Jamil was puzzled by the report from the detachment.

“What? The enemy’s armor was destroyed?”

“Yes. I saw it with my own eyes; it was definitely destroyed.”

“What’s going on? The enemy’s armor was supposed to be a special custom-made item with unique protection, right? I didn’t think it could be so easily destroyed…”

“I don’t know. But it was definitely destroyed, after just a few attacks.”

“I see…”

(Although the detachment was a desperate measure, they returned with unexpected results. But to think the equipment was destroyed… Could it be just poor maintenance? Or is there some other issue with the equipment? Either way, it’s worth probing further.)

Jamil decided to change the strategy.

(Our previous plan was to target those whose stats weren’t adjusted yet… But if the enemy’s equipment is malfunctioning…)

“Rodo, use the ‘Fire Dragon.”

“Huh? The ‘Fire Dragon?”

“Yes, send the ‘Fire Dragon’ to attack and distract the enemy, then strike from the opposite side.”

“But that’s just the usual attack. Wasn’t the ‘Fire Dragon’ supposed to be the decisive factor this time? If we deploy it early, it might be stopped by the enemy’s ‘Dragon’s Tone’.”

“It’s fine. Let them stop it. The goal is to halt the enemy, not to finish them off.”

As Laurent and his team hurried down the mountain, three ‘Fire Dragons’ flew in from the right and attacked.

Nicola tried to defend with ‘Dragon’s Tone,’ but the ‘Fire Dragon’ used its ‘Fire Breath.’

(Damn, ‘Dragon’s Tonne’ isn’t working?)

“Don’t worry. Keep playing.”

Laurent encouraged Nicola to continue playing the harp, and eventually, the ‘Fire Dragons’ seemed to get confused, flying in circles in the air.

(It seems ‘White Wolf’ had already raised the loyalty of the ‘Fire Dragon.’ We need to brace ourselves for the initial strike. But with potions and ‘Earth Craft,’ we should manage. The real issue is…)

“Attacks from the opposite cliff are incoming. Leon, I’m counting on you.”

“Got it!”

Leon quickly positioned himself on the side opposite the ‘Fire Dragon’ to prepare for the enemy’s attack.

Immediately, attacks from arrows and ‘Dragonhead Gauntlets’ flew toward them.

“Shoot down the ‘Fire Dragon’ with the ‘Dragon Piercer.’ The Grade D group should fall back further.”

Leon furrowed his brow at Laurent’s orders.

(Come on. Even though they’re Grade D, this is too lenient. This will put too much strain on the main forces of Grade B and C.)

As Jamil observed the battle from the cliff and watched Laurent’s command, he was puzzled.

(It’s still strange. He’s protecting specific adventurers. It’s not just those with disordered stats.)

Jamil used someone with the ability to appraise items to check the armor of those stationed in the center of the alliance.

“This… The equipment of those stationed in the center has significantly low durability.”

“How low?”

“It’s below 40. Armors with durability values of 20 or 30 are not uncommon.”

“Hmph, so they were indeed having trouble with their equipment.”

(It seems the desperate measures have unexpectedly yielded results. I don’t know what’s going on with the alliance, but I’ll make the most of this opportunity.)

After shooting down the ‘Fire Dragon’ and escaping the ‘White Wolf’s’ bow attacks, Laurent and his team, protecting the Grade D and E members, continued their descent.

However, not long after, the ‘White Wolf’ sent in the ‘Fire Dragon’ again.

(The strategy has changed from using the ‘Fire Dragon’ as a decisive factor to using it for delay. This is bad. They must have figured out about the defective equipment…)

Laurent clenched his teeth.

Jamil, seeing Laurent desperately trying to hide the equipment flaws, wore a smirking expression.

(This unnatural command from the alliance. They must be hiding the defective equipment from even their own allies.)

“Well, it’s understandable. No one wants to reveal equipment flaws. It affects the guild’s credibility, after all. Heh.”

Subsequently, the ‘White Wolf’ continued to wear down the alliance’s main forces with the delay tactics of the ‘Fire Dragon’ and bow attacks.

By the time Laurent and his team reached the plateau, the ‘White Wolf’s’ melee units revealed themselves and gathered their entire army, preparing for a decisive battle.

Reluctantly, Laurent prepared to respond.

(Damn, a decisive battle at this timing when our main forces’ stats have been drained… And on the plateau…)

(This time, the enemy’s situation is special.)

Jamil, having brought the situation to his advantage, carefully observed the enemy’s formation.

Laurent, who wanted to avoid a clash with the “White Wolf” to conceal the deficiencies in their equipment, found it impossible to avoid confrontation on flat ground.

While he could manage to protect the Level D and E groups on a narrow, undulating path, on the broad, flat highlands he had to deploy his forces horizontally, which made it impossible to cover the weak points of his formation.

(Repeatedly hitting and retreating on uneven terrain, gradually wearing down the enemy’s stamina. That’s the true style of the “White Wolf.” But this time, we’re forcing a decisive battle on flat ground!)

(Is this the true nature of the “White Wolf”? Using every means to shake us, finding weaknesses, and then relentlessly exploiting them.)

Although Laurent had to line up the users of defective armor in the formation as required by the enemy, he continued to think of a strategy and tried to do his best.

(Our defenses are almost certainly going to be breached. If that’s the case, we have to strike before we are struck!)

“Karla!”

“Hm? What is it? Calling me so loudly all of a sudden.”

[Description of the Spinning Sword Dance]

By spinning while performing sword techniques, you can extend the range and power of your attacks.

As your class increases, you can unleash slashing attacks over a wide area.

(With the unique skill ” Spinning Sword Dance,” we might be able to break through this situation.)

“Karla. Follow the basic tactics as trained. Stick behind Elio and use ‘Shadow Strike’ and ‘Sword Techniques’ from a leap. But if you get a chance to get behind the enemy, use Spinning Sword Dance.’”

“Got it.”

Laurent firmly gripped Karla’s shoulder.

“? What’s up?”

“I’m sorry for putting pressure on you in this situation. It might be a bit heavy, but I’m relying on you here. Please.”

“? Alright.”

Karla took her position, not fully understanding the intent behind Laurent’s words.

The “White Wolf” also had its trump cards prepared.

“Hey. It’s your turn now.”

Jamil called out to the new recruits who had recently joined.

“Phew. Finally, our turn.”

A tall, broad-shouldered man holding a spear-axe said.

“Seriously. Running up and down the mountain path, jumping around, getting dragged all over the place.”

A portly middle-aged man with a spear commented.

“But finally, we’ve got the opportunity we’ve been waiting for. Let’s show Laurent what we’re capable of.”

A thin, bespectacled young man said.

They all had masks or face coverings, hiding their identities.

Rodo couldn’t help but view them with suspicion.

“Hey, Jamil. Are you sure these guys are reliable?”

“Of course. I brought them on precisely for situations like this.”

“But they look pretty shady. You can’t even tell where they’re from.”

“However, their value as close-combat forces is genuine.”

Gilbert’s Stats:

Strength: 70–80

Toughness: 70–80

Savast’s Stats:

Strength: 70–100

Toughness: 70–100

(Gilbert seems to be a B-class warrior, while Savast looks like an A-class warrior. The slight inconsistency in their stats is a concern, but…)

“Hey, Gilbert. Do we still need to keep our faces covered?”

Savast grumbled, his belly shaking.

“Well, don’t rush it. We can reveal ourselves to Laurent anytime. Right?”

(Though we’ve managed to blend in with the “White Wolf,” since our deception about our identities with the “Dragon’s Ember” might have been exposed, it’s not wise to act openly. There’s no guarantee that information about us isn’t being shared between the “Spirit Workshop” and the “Dragon’s Ember.” For now, we need to keep our affiliation with the “White Wolf” a secret from anyone involved.)

“Both of you, it looks like the combat preparations are complete. Let’s get into position.”

The battle had begun.

Against the alliance’s attempt to wear them down with archery, the “White Wolf” aggressively charged into close combat.

As the warriors of the “White Wolf” approached the alliance’s front lines, the archers fell back, and close combat ensued.

While the “Spirit Workshop” alliance focused on breaking the enemy’s lines with Elio’s “Shield Charge,” the “White Wolf” countered with warriors wielding spear-axes and spears to break through the ranks.

The battle seemed evenly matched at first, but as more and more of the alliance’s armor began to be severely damaged, the balance gradually shifted.

The fighting between the alliance and the “White Wolf” continued for some time, but as the sunset approached and both sides began to run low on stamina, both sides withdrew.

Although both sides had inflicted damage on each other, the alliance suffered more significant losses.

Most of the poor-quality armor was destroyed, and the majority of the ores held by the members of the D and E groups were stolen by the “White Wolf’s” thieves.

On the other hand, the “White Wolf” experienced only limited damage.

The damage to their rear, which caught Elio’s attention, prevented him from fully utilizing the power of the “Shield Charge.”

Laurent was forced to reorganize his forces.

“Laurent. Claire and Alice haven’t returned.”

Hans, looking thoroughly exhausted, reported.

Claire and Alice had stayed behind to support the crumbling alliance and had been captured by the enemy.

Hans Bergamot’s Stats:

Agility: 30–80

(Hans’s agility has dropped. It seems the capture of Claire and Alice has affected his morale. With Hans in this state, he’s no longer useful.)

Leon, also with a grim expression, approached Laurent.

“Laurent. Over 30 people had their armor destroyed and were incapacitated, and more than 20 were taken prisoner. The quest is practically a failure. Damn it. I never expected things to turn out like this. What should we do, Laurent?”

“Hmph.”

Laurent exhaled deeply.

(It’s not just Wayne. Elio and Hans are still inexperienced. And I’m no different. Relying on Karla, who just joined, in this critical situation is a sign of our inadequacy. The new, small guild members won’t be able to cover the equipment costs, so the “Spirit Workshop” will inevitably end up in the red this time. The Quartet recruitment plan will have to start over from scratch. I should have heeded Pat’s advice more about the timing for forming a grand alliance.)

“Laurent, we’re almost in a state of ruin here, but the enemy still has reserves. They’ll recover with potions and attack again soon. What should we do?”

“Hehe.”

Laurent smiled slightly.

“…What’s up, Laurent?”

“No, it’s just that it’s been a while since we’ve been in such a tight spot.”

“O-oh.”

Laurent glared intently at the retreating “White Wolf” forces.

(By now, the “White Wolf” must think they’ve cornered us. But we won’t give up over something like this. We will definitely overcome this crisis.)